Explore Georgia’s Festivals
In Georgia, people have a deep appreciation for celebrations. Georgians enjoy festivals featuring fun, delicious food, and wine throughout the year. Traditional music and dance make these gatherings even more vibrant and memorable. In the text, we will focus on some of the non-religious festivals celebrated in Georgia.
Rtveli: Georgia’s Traditional Grape Harvest Festival
Rtveli, the grape harvest festival, is one of Georgia’s oldest and most authentic celebrations. This festival marks the end of the grape-growing season, during which Georgians honour the harvest and the winemaking process, showing respect for the land and its abundance. With a winemaking tradition that dates back eight thousand years, the country has a profound love for viticulture, making the grape harvest one of the most joyous occasions of the year.
Rtveli, celebrated from mid-September to early October in our wine-making regions, is marked by songs, dances, and feasts. This festive time is perfect for reunions and expressions of gratitude. It is a joyous occasion when friends and family from the city come together to participate in the year’s main festivities, creating cherished memories and strengthening their bonds.
Everything starts in the vineyards. Here, people of all ages gather to harvest the grapes and bring them to Marani, our cherished wine cellar. The grapes are then lovingly crushed by foot at Satsnakheli, a traditional wine press. You might recognize this scene from old movies. From Satsnakheli, the grape juice is transferred to a Qvevri, a clay vessel buried underground for fermentation and wine storage.
Georgians traditionally perform their folk songs throughout celebrations, keeping their spirits high. They believe that wine reflects one’s aura and energy, making it essential to remain happy during the event.
After a day in a vineyard, people gather around Supra – a Traditional Georgian Feast. Tables are piled high with mouthwatering Georgian treats like freshly baked bread Shoti, Guda cheese, sunkissed tomatoes, khachapuri, mtsvadi, and churchkhela, along with plenty of homemade wine and local brandy. The tamada, or toastmaster, will lead the toasts while the celebration continues with songs, dances, and endless laughter. It’s a simple and perfect way to enjoy and celebrate life in all its colours.
If you are interested in being part of this celebration, we can plan an itinerary for you. You will visit the wine region with a local family, participate in the Rtveli festival, and experience Georgian hospitality.
Tbilisoba: Celebrating Tbilisi’s Beauty, History, and Culture
Tbilisoba is an annual festival celebrated on one of the weekends in October. This festival is dedicated to Tbilisi, the beloved capital of Georgia. Locals and city guests celebrate the special day of the city grandly.
Tbilisi’s old districts and main squares are charming at this time. It’s autumn. Leaves of the plane trees are slowly turning golden in colour. Sunkissed pomegranates, grapes, and tones of autumn fruits from all over Georgia are brought to the stalls and shops of the city. In Rike Park, there is a real Satsnakheli – a winepress. Men wearing national costumes, Chokhas are pressing grapes by feet and singing thousand-year-old polyphony songs. Locals offer delicious Georgian dishes and a wide selection of wines in every street and square.
Artisans from all over the country showcase their crafts and artistry at specially organized street markets. Visitors can enjoy beautiful handmade jewelry displays, unique souvenirs, fine silk or felt scarves, and intricate pottery.
Various cultural performances occur during the festival, including Georgian dances, folk music, and theatrical shows. It is a genuine demonstration of the country’s rich cultural heritage.
The two-day festival ends with an outdoor concert and fireworks organized by local Tbilissians. The festivities carry on into the evening with live music, dance parties, and cultural performances at various venues across the city until dawn.
Discover Georgia’s Finest Wine Festivals
Georgia, known as the cradle of wine, has an eight-thousand-year winemaking history. The culture is deeply intertwined with wine, featuring festivals throughout the year. Attending one of these festivals allows you to meet passionate local winemakers who rely on generations of knowledge and traditional methods recognized by UNESCO. Most wines you’ll taste are organic and natural.
Here are some of the festivals you should consider attending.
Gurjaani wine festival
When: October
Where: Gurjaani, Georgia
Every October, a celebration occurs in the small town of Gurjaani, located in the main wine-making region of Kakheti, Georgia. Visitors can enjoy a variety of local wines, try delicious local delicacies, and explore traditional crafts. The presence of Georgian folk music makes this experience even more enjoyable. Local musicians perform centuries-old polyphonic songs that will delight your ears.
Zero – Compromise-Natural Wine Festival
When: First Weekend In May, typically
Where: Tbilisi
Zero Compromise is a natural wine festival held in early May in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. This two-day event is organized by the Georgian Natural Wine Association. Local wineries that are members of this association and international wineries producing natural and qvevri wines participate in the festival. Winemakers offer a selection of simple natural wines and engage in interesting discussions about recent harvests and the production of natural wine in Georgia.
New Wine Festival
When: 2nd Saturday in May
Where: Tbilisi
The new wine festival begins with the qvevri opening ceremony and features the famous Georgian feasting song “Mravaljamieri,” which means “long live.” This popular annual festival gathers winemakers, wine experts, sommeliers, wine writers, and importers from around the world. Its main goal is to promote traditional Georgian qvevri wine, explore new varieties and regions, enhance wine education, and develop consumer culture.
Visitors can sample the best wines from various wineries, increase their knowledge about Georgian wine, and enjoy the festival’s relaxing atmosphere. There will be good music, a range of enjoyable activities planned by the organizers, and even a chance to win 10 boxes of premium wine in a contest.
Discover Georgia’s Top Food Festivals
Food is central to Georgian culture, showcasing a diverse culinary scene despite the country’s small size. Influenced by Mediterranean and Persian traditions, Georgian cuisine features fresh ingredients like coriander, garlic, and walnuts.
Hospitality is a core value, with guests treated as gifts from God, earning Georgia a reputation for warmth. The traditional feast, or სუფრა (Supra), highlights the importance of sharing food and celebrating together. For an authentic experience, consider dining with local families or joining culinary tours that include tastings and masterclasses. Don’t miss any food festivals during your visit!
Gemo Fest
This two-day food festival is organized by the Georgian Tourism Administration. The festival aims to highlight the diversity of Georgian cuisine, showcasing unique dishes from each region of Georgia. It travels from one region to another, giving home cooks, professional chefs, and winemakers an opportunity to present their culinary creations and regional specialties.
Gemo Fest attracts not only many foreigners but also many locals. It’s an excellent opportunity to experience how Georgians celebrate their food and wine, enjoy delightful music, and savour delicious Georgian dishes with the local community.
Tushetian Cheese festival
Where: Akhmeta, Georgia
When: October
Georgians have a deep appreciation for cheese, often considering freshly baked bread and cheese enough for a satisfying meal. With around 60 varieties, cheese production is a point of pride, especially in the Tusheti region. Notable cheeses include Tushetian Guda, made from sheep or a mix of sheep and cow’s milk and ripened in a sheep-skin bag, and Dambal Khacho, a blue cheese similar to fondue. Cheese lovers should visit the Tushetian cheese festival, where local cheese-makers showcase their creations, along with folk music, handmade crafts, and sports activities like horse racing. We can help you plan a visit to local farmers to learn about cheese-making and even try your hand at it.
Georgian honey festival
Where: Tbilisi
When: June
Honey is a treasured product in Georgia, with a cultivation history of over 5,500 years. The country’s rich floral biodiversity leads to many varieties, including Alpine, acacia, citrus, and chestnut honey. Beyond being a food item, honey is used in medicine, cosmetics, and spirits distillation. Throughout the country, you’ll find stalls and shops selling Georgian honey. Don’t miss the honey festival, a two-day event where local beekeepers showcase various honey products and share their knowledge about honey production.
Music festivals in Georgia
Music is an inseparable part of life for Georgians. For thousands of years, people have created music for every occasion, from Georgia’s traditional music, known for its polyphonic style, dates back centuries and is part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It remains a vibrant part of daily life, with Georgians often singing at gatherings. The country also hosts exciting music festivals that draw both locals and international visitors.
The Art Gen Folk Festival
The Art-Gene Festival is Georgia’s premier folklore festival, offering an engaging cultural experience and promoting Georgian traditions among youth. Each year features a unique theme reflecting different aspects of Georgian culture, such as “Family Folklore and Polyphonic Songs” and “Georgian Ecology and Bioproducts.” Regional outdoor celebrations take place near historical monuments, culminating at the Open Air Museum of Ethnography in Tbilisi. The festival showcases a vibrant mix of music, dance, crafts, and cuisine, bridging rural and urban artists.
Tsinandali Music Festival
The Tsinandali Palace and its gardens, from the 19th century, host the annual International Classical Music Festival. This event features orchestral concerts, chamber music, and performances by renowned musicians and opera singers. Notable past participants include Liza Batiashvili, Martha Argerich, and Sir András Schiff, with Gianandrea Noseda as the artistic director. Taking place in autumn, the festival aligns with the festive wine season in Kakheti, offering an unforgettable experience amidst the palace’s beautiful gardens.
The Black Sea Jazz Festival
Batumi is a vibrant celebration of jazz music in various forms, blending classical elements with a coastal atmosphere. The festival has hosted renowned artists like Lisa Stansfield, Macy Gray, Hugh Masekela, and Lauryn Hill. Jazz has been popular in Georgia since the 1930s, and today, fans enjoy a range of styles including soul, blues, and R&B. Attending the festival offers a unique opportunity to experience this musical celebration in the beautiful seaside city of Batumi.
